Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wednesday's Win

Successful--Last night we watched the movie "The Finest Hours". According to Disney who lost 75 million on the movie, it was not a success. But we would argue that is was successful to us: it lifted our spirits into the cloudy night, amazed our eyes with its technical beauty, stirred our sense of hope in human perserverance through able acting, and distracted us (successfully) from the political noise on television.

Win--At what age do we learn that to win is better than to lose? Does it happen before we start school, grades and ranking? Do we learn it at home from our families, friends? I am trying to recall when I first sensed that I would not always win (and that winning was happier than losing)--. My memory goes back to playing jacks with my older cousin, Sarah.

Being older, her fingers and hands were more adept at throwing the ball and scooping the metal pieces into her hands. I learned that "more" (jacks in hand) were better than fewer and the higher the ball bounced, chances to grab more jacks increased--to a point. But if the ball went too high or too far, all was lost. I think I was four or five when I learned this.

And I guess I am still learning what it means to win.... Today it means a clean mammogram, results from blood work that need only modest tweaks in medication, and, of course a major win is waking up each morning and being able to breath, move, swim, write.

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About Me:

I have lived in Tucson since 1971 and have worked as a community development professional for more than forty years. I volunteer with TEDxTucson and the Tucson Botanical Gardens in addition to providing pro bono and consulting work through my business, Community Renaissance. http://www.communityrenaissance.biz . Also through Community Renaissance, I am working with others on our primary community projects, Do Happy Today and BuildUP^ Tucson & Beyond .

I write poetry, short fiction, nonfiction and essays. I love to read and used to dance ballet and tap, but I now mindfully walk my neighborhood near the Rillito River, bicycle indoors, do weights, Tai Chi and Qi Jong, and swim several times a week.